Everton are reportedly eyeing loan deals for Real Madrid stars Luka Jovic and Isco during the January transfer window.
The Toffees made some cost-effective signings in the summer transfer window under new manager Rafael Benitez. Out of those, Demarai Gray and Andros Townsend have starred in the opening six games of the 2021/22 season, with the duo notching up eight-goal involvements to date.
While there’s still a lot of time for the transfer window to reopen, Rafael Benitez has already started planning to bolster his squad. According to Spanish outlet Defensa Central, the Everton boss wants both Luka Jovic and Isco signed in January on short-term loan deals until the end of the season.
Luka Jovic, 23, has failed to deliver the goods at Real Madrid ever since arriving from Eintracht Frankfurt in the summer of 2019. He has lacked regular game time at Santiago Bernabeu, managing only 36 appearances across all competitions, including four outings this season. Due to a lack of opportunities, the Serbian striker might consider a move away from Real Madrid in the coming months.
As far as Isco is concerned, he has seen his stock nosedive over the past few years due to a combination of lack of game time and inconsistency. The Spanish international fell down the pecking order under Zinedine Zidane and things haven’t looked like improving under new boss Carlo Ancelotti, with the 29-year-old starting only two out of seven LaLiga games.
Isco and Luka Jovic—Strong attacking options for Rafael Benitez’s Everton?
Rafael Benitez has inherited a good squad from Carlo Ancelotti, and despite not spending a great amount of money in the past transfer window, the Spaniard’s ambition will be to help Everton challenge for a top-six finish.
Given the quality and squad depth the likes of Manchester City, Chelsea, Manchester United and Liverpool possess, the exciting signings Aston Villa made in the summer and the excellent start Brighton have enjoyed this season, the Toffees do face a tough job in achieving their targets. Thus, the addition of a couple of new faces to the squad could do well for the Merseyside club. In that regard, both Luka Jovic and Isco would be smart acquisitions.
Jovic needs a change of scenery and regular game time to get back his mojo, which Everton would be able to offer. The Serbian international is a poacher in every sense of the word, and at just 23 he still has plenty of time to unlock the potential. With his qualities, he would offer Everton something different at the top end of the pitch to that of Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Richarlison—the duo currently out injured.
Meanwhile, Isco has proven himself at the biggest club in the world, winning hosts of major trophies and titles. The 29-year-old’s form may have dwindled in the last couple of years but there’s no doubting his technical abilities and volumes of experience, which could prove handy at Everton.
The Spaniard is a creative midfielder who can play in different positions across the midfield and attack, and such versatility would certainly appeal to Benitez, whose club has just offloaded James Rodriguez after just one season at Goodison Park.
And with Gylfi Sigurdsson suspended, Isco could fill that spot in the Everton squad and offer Benitez’s side with the creativity, vision and off the ball movement required to unlock some rigid Premier League defences in the second half of the season.
Thus, the Toffees signing Isco and Jovic on temporary loan deals from Real Madrid in the January transfer window could significantly boost their chances of getting a top-six finish this term.
